Yun Jeon

Yun Jeon (尹烇, 1575 (8th year of King Seonjo) – 1637 (15th year of King Injo)). A civil official of the mid-Joseon period.

His childhood name was Chan (燦). His family seat was Paepyeong (坡平). His courtesy name was Hoesuk (晦叔), and his pen name was Huchon (後村). He was the great-grandson of Military Commander (byeongsa) Yun Seon-ji (先智). His grandfather was Yun Don (暾), and his father was Yun Chang-se (昌世), posthumously granted the title of Vice Minister (Champ'an). His mother was of the Cheongju Kyeong clan (淸州慶氏), daughter of Kyeong Hon (渾), Vice Director of the Office of Special Advisers (Pujehak). He was the younger brother of Yun Hwang (煌). He was a disciple of Woogye Seong Hon (成渾).

Life

In 1610 (2nd year of King Gwanghaegun), he passed the regular civil service examination (Singsik Mungwa) with a second-class rank and entered the Seungmun Office, after which he became Jojak. In 1613, when the Confucian scholar Yi Wi-gyeong, at the instigation of Yi I-cheom, submitted a memorial calling for the deposition of the queen dowager (Pyemoso), Yun Jeon, together with Hallim Eom Seong (嚴惺) and Gwon Hwak (權鑊), tried to halt Yi Wi-gyeong's memorial, but was instead dismissed from office.

Afterward he was reappointed as Park Sa, and after serving as Jeonjeok and Gamchal, he reached the post of Magistrate of the Hojo Left Secretariat (Hojo Jwarangjwa) in 1615. However, he was again targeted by Yi Wi-gyeong and others, dismissed from office, and struck from the official roster (Sapan). In 1623, following the Injo Reform (Injo Banjeong), he was reinstated as Gyeonggi Provincial Magistrate Dosa. In the following year, when the Rebellion of Yi Gwal (Yi Gwal-ui nan) broke out, he immediately went to Gongju, where King Injo was staying, and became Gongjo Jeongnang. After the return to the capital, in 1626 (4th year of King Injo), he became Jipyeong.

At this time, together with Grand Minister of the Office of the Inspector General (Daesaheon) Park Dong-seon (朴東善), he spoke on behalf of the people's resentment over the monopoly on fuel held by government offices and the families of the scholar-officials. The following year, when the Manchu Invasion of Jeongmyo (Jeongmyo Honran) broke out, he was impeached by the Office of Remonstrance (Sagan-won) for failing to attend the king, but he was active as a Jongsagwan (aide) to Kim Jang-saeng (金長生), the Commissioner for Summoning (Hososa). After entering Ganghwa, he served as Bunbyeongjo Jeongnang, Gongjo Jeongnang, Sayeh, and Jeong of the Yebinsi (Yebinsi-jeong), and he served as Magistrate of Iksan County.

In 1633 he served as Jongmyoseo Ryeong (Director of the Royal Ancestral Shrine Office), Jikgang, and Jangnyeong, and in December 1636, during the Manchu Invasion of Byeongja (Byeongja Honran), as Pilseon, he accompanied the crown princess (Binggung) into Ganghwa. However, when the fortress fell in the following year, he refused food and drink, and together with Song Si-yeong (宋時榮) and Yi Si-jik (李時稷) and others, resolved to take their own lives. Twice he hanged himself, but was rescued each time. He then tried to commit suicide with a dagger (paedo), but before he died he loudly scolded the enemy soldiers and was killed.

He was praised for being sincere, generous, and prudent. He was posthumously appointed Minister of Personnel (Ijo Pansŏ), and was enshrined at the Chungnyeol Shrine (忠烈祠) in Ganghwa and at Gusan Confucian Academy (龜山書院) in Yeonsan. His posthumous name was Chungheon (忠憲).

Writings

• Huchon Silgi (後村實紀)

Family

• Paternal grandfather: Yun Don (尹暾) – posthumously Left Secretariat Chief (Jwaseungji)
• Paternal grandmother: Munhwa Yu clan (daughter of Yu Yeon, Chŏmjŏng)
  • Father: Yun Chang-se (尹昌世) – posthumously Vice Minister
  • Mother: Cheongju Kyeong clan (daughter of Kyeong Hon, Vice Director of the Office of Special Advisers)
    • Elder brother: Yun Su (尹燧) – Magistrate of Jukju
      • Nephew: Yun Sun-geo (尹舜擧)
    • Elder brother: Yun Hwang (尹煌) – Grand Minister of the Office of Remonstrance (Daesagan)
      • Nephew: Yun Mun-geo (尹文擧)
      • Nephew: Yun Seon-geo (尹宣擧)
    • Younger brother: Yun Heub (尹熻) – Seoyun of Hanseong
    • Younger brother: Yun Hee (尹熺) – Jeonbu
    • Wife: Haepyeong Yun clan (daughter of Yun Hwan, Chiji; granddaughter of Yun Geun-su)
      • Son: Yun Won-geo (尹元擧)
        • Grandson: Yun Ju (尹拄)
        • Grandson: Yun Yu (尹揄)
        • Grandson: Yun Bu (尹拊)
      • Son: Yun Jung-geo (尹仲擧)
      • Son: Yun Suk-geo (尹叔擧)
      • Son: Yun Gye-geo (尹季擧)
      • Eldest daughter: married to Song Si-hyeong of Eunjin
      • Second daughter: married to Kim Hwon of Gangneung
      • Third daughter: married to Kim Gwang-ak of Gyeongju
      • Fourth daughter: married to Kim Do-eung of Gimhae
      • Son: Yun Dong-geo (尹東擧)
      • Son: Yun O-geo (尹五擧)
      • Son: Yun Pal-geo (尹八擧)

Source: Encyclopedia of Korean Culture